Submitted By: Jimmy Lopez
presenter
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
end
Department: Engineering
FORMAL TITLE:
title
Contract with Sawcross, Inc. to provide and install a new dewatering rotary press at Water Reclamation Facility No. 2, in the amount of $1,648,000 plus a 10 percent contingency, for a total project budget not to exceed $1,812,800
end
OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence, Quality of Place
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
Bid released to the public: 03/09/2026
body
BACKGROUND:
The City of Ocala’s Water Resources Department operates two wastewater treatment plants that produce biosolids using the activated sludge process. Water Reclamation Facility No. 2 (WRF #2) currently has an aging belt filter press that produces a biosolids cake between 11 and 14 percent total solids (TS).
The new rotary press will enhance both the capacity and efficiency of the sludge removal process. This unit is engineered to be highly efficient in energy and polymer usage with very low maintenance required. The unit will be delivered and installed on the second floor of the dewatering building at WRF #2, located at 4200 SE 24th Street, Ocala, Florida 34471.
The supplier must ensure proper alignment and stability. The supplier shall provide the rotary press complete with a support structure, an adequate number of channels sized correctly for the sludge loads, a wash system, a main drive motor with a variable frequency drive (VFD), bearings, seals, a feed pipe, a liquid polymer mixing system, a discharge auger, a control panel, monitoring instrumentation, flow meters, and other necessary accessories.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
On March 9, 2026, the City issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) No.: WRS/260536 for the provision of these goods and services. On May 14, 2026, two bids were received on a lump sum basis, as follows:
Sawcross, Inc, was found to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder with a total bid of $1,648,000. Staff requests a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $164,800 for a total project budget not to exceed $1,812,800. The contingency will allow the City Engineer to approve change orders to cover unforeseen conditions that may arise during construction.
Sawcross, Inc. provided two pilot test reports demonstrating that the unit is capable of achieving 16.8 to 21.3 percent total solids (TS). These pilot tests were conducted at wastewater treatment plants in Taylor, Arizona and Carlsbad, New Mexico (Attachments #7 & 8). Accordingly, the rotary press system must verify, through performance testing, its capability to process biosolids sludge and consistently produce a minimum cake solids content of 16 percent TS at WRF#2.
Staff recommends approval of Contract No. WRS/260536 with Sawcross, Inc, for the provision of goods and services related to the new dewatering rotary press at Water Reclamation Facility No. 2.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for the project is available in the amount of $1,812,800 in account 616-030-169-535-69-65010.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
These goods and services were procured in compliance with the City’s procurement policy.
LEGAL REVIEW:
This Agreement has been reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny